Monitoring Desk
LONDON: The United Kingdom (UK) and Japanese prime ministers signed what Downing Street called a “hugely significant” new defence agreement that could see troops deployed to each others’ countries. The deal was signed in London on Wednesday.
UK PM Rishi Sunak and Japanese PM Fumio Kishida signed the deal at the Tower of London, with the UK leader telling his guest, “the ties between our two countries is stronger than ever, not just across security and trade but also our values.”
The deal is the latest sign of the UK’s increasing interest in the Asia-Pacific region and Tokyo s efforts to strengthen its alliances to face the challenges posed by China.
The deal creates a legal basis for deploying British and Japanese troops on each other’s territory for training and other operations.
Crucial defence deal for UK and Japan
It reflects a new “Indo-Pacific tilt” in UK’s foreign policy following its departure from the European Union in 2020, confirming Japan as its critical East Asian ally.
Sunak’s office called the development “the most significant defence agreement between the two countries in over a century.”
“This Reciprocal Access Agreement is greatly significant for both our countries – it cements our commitment to the Indo-Pacific and shows our joint efforts to bolster economic security,” Sunak said.
Negotiations on the agreement began in 2021.
Last January, Japan also signed a similar accord with Australia, and Tokyo has recently overhauled its security and defence policy to address growing pressure from China.
British aircraft and ships can visit Japan and vice-versa, but the process is “diplomatically complicated” and each time requires foreign ministry clearance.
The new deal will create a “standing framework” instead.
The agreement will make it easier to bring in an army group, or to “bring a destroyer to visit Yokosuka, or to bring in some Royal Marines who intend to train with the Japanese amphibious forces,” Graham told a foreign news agency.
